Trump told Newsmax that while Iran's military is heavily damaged, only a guarantee against nuclear development will secure a lasting peace, calling for stronger global action.
US President Donald Trump believes that the Islamic regime in Iran would use a nuclear weapon if it ever acquired one, he said during an interview with Newsmax's Greta Van Susteren on Thursday.
"I will tell you that Iran would use the nuclear weapon if they had it. I deal with these people. I know people. They will use their nuclear weapons, and we're not going to give them a chance to do it," Trump said.
"We have to have guarantees they will never have a nuclear weapon," he added.
He also dismissed past proposals that Iran could be provided with nuclear material for civilian use.
"I wouldn't have approved that. I wouldn't have. I'm not giving them anything. They're going to either have a nuclear weapon, or they're not. And if they do, they're in big trouble.
Trump also discussed the achievements of Operation Epic Fury.
"We've already won, but I want to win by a bigger margin," he said.
"We have destroyed their navy, destroyed their air force, destroyed all of their - if you look at their anti-aircraft equipment, their radar equipment, their leadership. Their leadership is destroyed. We've destroyed everything," he added.
However, despite severely weakening Iran both militarily and economically, per Trump's descriptions, only a "firm guarantee" against nuclear development would secure a "lasting outcome," Newsmax reported.
The military achievements are "actually not good enough" if it does not stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, Trump said.
Iran's economy under severe pressure due to Strait of Hormuz blockade, Trump says
Iran is also facing severe economic pressure, Trump said.
"Right now, their economy is collapsing, inflation is at close to 100%," he said.
"They can't do any oil because we have a blockade that's 100% effective," he added.
Trump said that he has been widely supported, while also criticizing allies for not taking stronger action.
"I actually think it's very popular what I'm doing. The world is thanking me, because I shouldn't be the one that's doing it. Other presidents should have done it long before me, and other countries should have done it," he said.
However, "we were not helped by NATO at all," he stated.
